The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, October 10. Present were all of council; David Simonson (serving as Deputy Mayor), Donna Smith, Kevin Grotheim, Kyle McLeod, Maureen Applin and Floyd Childerhose, as well as Administrator Tina Douglas and Recreation Director Jordy Jones.
Absent were Mayor Ross Derdall, Assistant Administrator Rachel Sillers, and Superintendent of Municipal Operations Randy Antoniuk.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights:
- Jones’ recreation report noted that he’d attended OH+S training (Occupational Health + Safety), which had gone well.
- Ice installation and painting at the Jim Kook Rec Plex had gone well, as had an ice painting installation camp that was held.
- The ice schedule for the rink is becoming full, which Jones is happy about. He’s also trying to attract more teams to play in Outlook’s facilities for more outside revenue.
- Jones noted how by law, someone needs special certification if a rink’s ice plant is 45 or more tonnes, and since Outlook’s is at 50, he’ll be taking the special refrigeration course training at Eston later this month. This is due to the dangers that can come with an ice plant dealing with ammonia.
- On the topic of the rink kitchen duties for this year, it was revealed that the town had received one tender, and it came from local restaurant owner Harvey Haugen. Council voted in favor of the bid.
- Council passed a motion to give $250 to the Outlook Ice Hawks senior hockey team as a donation.
- Councillor Applin brought up the prospect of having a ‘needs assessment’ done for the town, which includes personnel. The town is looking to have it done by the first week of November or so.
- In a follow-up to an item stemming from the last council meeting about home-based Outlook business Pulse Fitness making a request for signage indicating a handicap loading zone, councillors Simonson and McLeod saw no reason why the business couldn’t have a sign. Council voted in favor of it, as long as the sign is strictly for loading/unloading for a maximum time limit.
- The next council meeting had a date change, moving from October 24 to Monday, October 29 at 8:00.
- The West Central Municipal Government Committee is looking to have Outlook host a meeting in the future, and a tentative date of April 25 was selected by council.
- Outlook’s bylaw enforcement officer Ron Klassen said in his report that he’s following up on many violations, and that he’d like to have his contract reviewed by the town, as he feels there is more work to be done in Outlook and he would be willing to work two days a week in town instead of one.
The regular meeting started at 8:00 as a number of in-camera items were discussed at 7:00, which appears to be the format for meetings for the time being.
